Capital Campaign: The Quiet Phase (Shhhhh!)

It seems like nowadays every nonprofit wants to start a capital campaign.

Why, you might ask?

A nonprofit needs to expand its services to meet the growing needs of the community.

A donor has blessed the organization with a generous six- or seven-figure gift.

An aging building requires renovations.

All of these reasons could be true. And let’s be honest, there’s nothing more exciting than a capital campaign. Am I right? Everyone, and I mean everyone, loves to talk about raising money for something tangible. And what could be more tangible than a shiny new building, addition, or renovation?

However, most nonprofit staff, board members, and volunteers have never experienced the entire capital campaign process from start to finish.

There’s planning before the planning.

Planning committees.

Feasibility studies.

Budget development.

Architect-crafted renderings.

Meetings. So. Many. Meetings.

All before the very first ask is ever made.

After all that planning (and meeting), comes the most critical phase of the entire campaign: The Quiet Phase.

There’s no glitz or glam here, my friends. Everything is kept internal. No big announcements just yet. This is where a nonprofit creates its make-it-or-break-it momentum.

Several essential tasks must be accomplished during this time:

·        Finalizing a compelling case for support

·        Securing foundational gifts from longtime and major donors

·        Developing and refining marketing and communication plans

·        Building internal systems to track pledges and progress

Just one question remains: How long does the Quiet Phase last?

Answer: That is entirely up to the organization.

Best practice suggests remaining in the Quiet Phase until the campaign goal is proven to be realistic and attainable.

Did you know? It is ideal for nonprofits to stay in the Quiet Phase and wait to publicly announce a campaign kickoff until at least 50-70% of the goal has been secured.

Now that’s momentum.

Thinking about diving into a capital campaign, but not sure where to start? We can help. Contact Purposeful Outcomes Philanthropy, LLC today!